Construction of the new Buddy Phillips Bridge in downtown Jacksonville will remain at a standstill until after the new year, state transportation officials said.

Work should begin again in early 2013, said David Candela, a resident engineer for the N.C. Transportation Department in Jacksonville.

“We hope the bonding company has a contractor in place to get back to work sometime early next year,” he said. “Things are still getting sorted out right now.”

Work on the bridge — which spans the New River on Marine Boulevard as part of U.S. 17 Business — slowed down in September and came to a full stop in October. The contractor, Intercoastal Contracting of Castle Hayne, filed bankruptcy after losing a $2.6 million lawsuit for faulty work done in 2007.

Employees with Intercoastal have repeatedly declined comment. The company’s attorney, James Oliver Carter, of Carter & Carter in Wilmington, has not returned previous messages.

Since Intercoastal Contracting was unable to resume work on the project, the NCDOT has required Intercoastal’s bonding company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., to find a replacement contractor, said NCDOT spokeswoman Tammy Stewart.

A suitable replacement contractor is still being determined.

The $11.8-million bridge project was 20 percent ahead of schedule when work stopped, NCDOT officials said, adding they are confident the contract completion date of July 22 can still be achieved.

Candela said the bridge project was roughly 90 percent complete with mostly road work on either side of the bridge left to finish. Two lanes of traffic are flowing on the new bridge while the old bridge has been demolished and used to create the first inland artificial reef in Onslow County.

The new bridge is replacing a 67-year-old bridge that has been labeled one of worst in the state by AAA Carolinas.

Until it’s complete, motorists using the bridge need to watch signs for changing traffic information, stay alert and obey posted speed limits, according to the DOT.

For real-time travel information at any time, call 511, visit ncdot.gov/travel or follow the DOT on Twitter at ncdot.gov/travel/ twitter. Another option is NCDOT Mobile at m.ncdot.gov.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.